CU Buffs' David Bakhtiari, Nick Kasa selected in NFL draft

Three other players sign as free agents

David Bakhtiari, left, and Nick Kasa were both selected on the third day of the NFL draft. Bakhtiari was picked by the Packers and Kasa by the Raiders. (PAUL AIKEN)

Two former Colorado football players saw their dreams of being drafted by an NFL team realized Saturday and four others agreed to sign with teams as free agents.

Leaving the University of Colorado early to enter the draft turned out to be well worth it for David Bakhtiari. The same is true of Nick Kasa's decision 18 months ago to switch positions from defensive line to tight end.

Bakhtiari, the Buffs' starting left tackle the past two years, decided in January to forgo his final season of eligibility and not to endure the second coaching change of his career. It paid off when he was selected in the fourth round by Green Bay with the 109th overall pick.

Kasa had to wait a little longer but he was rewarded by the Oakland Raiders. The organization picked Kasa in the sixth round with the 172nd overall selection despite the fact he had played only one season as a tight end.

Later in the evening, linebacker Doug Rippy used his Twitter account to announce he planned to sign with the Denver Broncos, bringing him back to Colorado after he returned home to Ohio following his senior season last fall.

Defensive lineman Will Pericak, who grew up in Boulder and attended Boulder High School, agreed to a free agent deal with the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Pericak will be reunited in Baltimore with former teammate Jimmy Smith, a cornerback who was the Ravens' first-round pick two years ago.

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Safety Ray Polk signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks, according to his agent Peter Schaffer who also represents Pericak.

While Bakhtiari was always confident he would be picked, he was overwhelmed when it actually happened. He said Green Bay wasn't one of the top five teams he and his agent, Mark Humenik, had identified as the most likely to take him.

"Shocked, surprised," Bakhtiari said of getting the call. "I was in complete disbelief. I was so happy. I have like no emotions because my body doesn't know which one to use right now."

Bakhtiari joins former Buffs Mason Crosby and Brad Jones on the Green Bay roster. He is the seventh Colorado player to forfeit remaining college eligibility to turn pro. All seven were drafted.

He is the second member of his family to reach the NFL. His oldest brother, Eric, is a journeyman linebacker who has been on the rosters of numerous franchises, most recently with the San Francisco 49ers last season.

Bakhtiari said he doesn't know if the Packers plan to use him as a tackle or guard and he doesn't really care. He is thrilled with the opportunity to block for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"I am so happy I am going to an awesome organization, the top organization in the league, with some of the best players and the best quarterback in the league," he said. "I get to go be a part of this organization. The fans are great. There is so much history there and I get to be a part of that. It just gives me chills thinking about that and the fact they want me to help them win a Super Bowl. Unbelievable."

Bakhtiari was named second-team All-Pac-12 the past two seasons with the Buffs despite playing for a team that struggled badly and went just 4-21 in that span. He was a team captain last fall.

While Bakhtiari spent his college career at tackle, he could move inside to guard as a pro because he is only 6-foot-4 and has a relatively short wingspan for an NFL tackle. Bakhtiari also played right tackle in 2010, starting 11 games that season and playing in all 12 games.

He said he did not discuss with Green Bay officials where they see him fitting in initially.

He was the highest rated Buff in this draft and is the 264th player from CU to be drafted into the NFL. Kasa is the 265th and the first tight end from CU to be selected since 2006.

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